Hey guys,

If you're like me, before you dive into a new project, you'll probably watch a few youtube tech videos beforehand to get an idea of what you're up against. Being able to see something done can really make a big difference.

You'll notice that a lot of niche, Corvette or LS specific stuff typically comes from smaller Youtubers that really are just making videos to support our specific community.

The problem is that Youtube recently announced changes to their monetization policy. Historically, anyone could make a video, post it on YT, and when an ad shows before it, the content creator gets a few pennies. Well YT has now decided that only the big channels should get paid, and screw the little guys. You now need 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time to be eligible for those few pennies of ad revenue.

To be clear, for a small channel, you don't nearly make enough money to compensate you for the time you spend filming and editing, but it's at least something. For example with my channel, I've got about 40 videos and 66k views... I've made to date about $150 (of course google adsense only pays in increments of $100, so technically I've only been paid $100). If you figure I've got 2-4 hours tied up in each video... then I'm making about $1 per hour. But dang it, I want my $1.

I'll skip the rant, but IMO youtube is essentially stealing peoples content. If content was created for your platform with the agreement of monetization, and then YT randomly decides they don't want to share the ad revenue any more, then that's stealing. Yes the channel creator can delete all the videos, but then that just screws the community that watches them.

So here's what I'm asking... if you know of a small youtube channel that makes Corvette or LS specific content... please subscribe to their channel and post their channel below for others to consider subscribing. Otherwise they'll be put out of business by youtube.

Below are a few of the videos I've created for the Corvette/LS community. If you think they're useful, please subscribe.

Landing page for my channel, where you subscribe (hint hint) and find all of my videos.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjl...ImYnmzVs9Z-Yow

Measuring for push rod length.

Improving your parts washer.

Installing the Straub rocker trunnion upgrade.

Replacing the steering wheel position sensor.

Every product featured in one of my videos I have personally paid for with my own money.

 

Doesn't anyone do anything just to be helpful anymore? Always has to be a cookie in it.

 

I'm curious why you think someone who buys video equipment, records hours of video during installation, plus spends hours editing to get a semi-decent final product, isn't entitled to some sort of a reward at the end? I'm all for doing things to be nice (clearly creating YT videos isn't a profitable en-devour), but there is a balance.

 

Because no one asked you to.

 

Checked out Scruf's Garage and have now subscribed.

I'm not the best C5 mechanic but a lot of your videos help explain things that might take me awhile to fix or worst, take it somewhere to get fixed.

 

Awesome. I really hope you find the videos helpful. And thanks for subscribing. It's appreciated more than you know.

 

I did as well !

 

Interestingly, some youtubers are famous and on dance shows for what amounts to garbage content. Go figure.

I never really understood how youtube worked until Nathan on one of the RV Travel channels explained the ad content and that you need to watch at least 30 seconds for it to count. Now I just let the ad play and do something else, oh, except for that new Dodge Ram truck commercial with the Vikings, I think that one is a riot.

I will subscribe as well. I have watched a few of your videos and think they are very well done.

 

Yea, its frustrating but I try not to dwell on it. I can put hours of work into creating useful content and maybe get a few thousand views. But someone that puts a half naked woman in their video thumbnail (clickbait) will get millions of views. I mean, I guess I could work on the car wearing a speedo... but I'm pretty sure that's only going to run people away, haha.

But thanks for subscribing and I do hope the videos are truly useful.

 

Aerovette and backmac I see both sides of this argument. I have lots of Corvette youtube videos that have seen 10's of thousands of views. A complete series on painting my C4, also motor mount remove and replace, and valve cover remove and replace. Door panel removal and front cornerlight removal on the C5, and rockerpanel install on the C7. I just do them for the fun of it, but it does take a lot of time and commitment to answer all the comments and maintain the channel. I have one video of making wood trusses, and if you google "build your own wood trusses" my video comes up as number one in the whole wide world! Has 400,000 views. I don't make a penny on my channel. Just for fun of it all. Just my way of meeting people and helping especially the corvette community. If you want to check it out my channel it is flyboyslc1. steve

 

My answer seemed short and possibly crappy. It wasn't meant to be. It was just an economy of words.
If I went to a buddy's house to help him fix his car, I'm not going to be upset or even slightly irritated if he doesn't offer me money. I went to help. Yeah, I spent gas money, maybe took some tools, lost a day, etc. but he didn't ask me to, I chose to. That was my point.

Better example. It would be like the rescuers in Hurricane Harvey expecting some payout.

 

I don't really think it was short and crappy, just short.
I understand people making money however they wish, but I don't personally understand it being acceptable posting their videos and trying to get traffic unless they are a paying vendor. These posts/posters should be banned IMO.
Now that is both short (your original post) and crappy (my post). Yep.

 

I'm not sure the comparison to first responders during a natural disaster expecting a handout is exactly an apples to apples comparison.

Why don't more people make videos for the community? It's not because they don't want to be helpful but the reality of the time and cost to make truly useful content deters people. My build could have been finished much faster if I wasn't constantly setting up cameras, etc.

My viewpoint is that if a person creates something (physical product, music, book, video, etc) then they have a right to benefit from it. And just because they benefit in some really tiny way, doesn't mean they aren't also providing value to others.

This forum sells ads and sponsorships. I have no issue with that because I still get the benefits of a free product. I don't expect someone to host a forum and absorb all the costs "just to be nice."

Content on YT is free to watch and benefit from. If the content creator is able to profit in some small way, I don't have an issue with that. Why should Youtube get all the benefit from other people's hard work?

And if this thread isn't in line with forum policies, then I understand if the mods close it. But my goal was twofold... 1) share C5/LS specific repair videos that I thought this forum would benefit from, and 2) highlight that changes in the YT policies are going to kill off a lot of small channels that we benefit from... and that there's something free and simple we can do to help them survive (click subscribe if you like their content).

But i respect that others may have differing viewpoints. No hurt feelings. Thanks for being part of and contributing to the C5 community.

 

[QUOTE=bigmackloud;1596543858].

Why don't more people make videos for the community? It's not because they don't want to be helpful but the reality of the time and cost to make truly useful content deters people. My build could have been finished much faster if I wasn't constantly setting up cameras, etc.

And if this thread isn't in line with forum policies, then I understand if the mods close it. But my goal was twofold... 1) share C5/LS specific repair videos that I thought this forum would benefit from, and 2) highlight that changes in the YT policies are going to kill off a lot of small channels that we benefit from... and that there's something free and simple we can do to help them survive (click subscribe if you like their content). QUOTE]

Somehow I managed to mess up the Quote on this one! I know from experience that it takes a lot of thought and work to present something reasonably good for others to watch. Youtube is my go-to place when it comes to working on cars. I was not aware of their policy change, but since I do not monetize my video's it doesn't matter to me. One interesting thing is that there is now at least one company that takes notice of good content and will try to buy out your advertising revenue stream. They have contacted me several times, but I am just in it for the fun. Please continue your work. Best wishes, and moderators, please do not close this thread!

steve

 

Clicked on your link only to see that I am already “subscribed” lol. I like you’re videos Scruf, keep em coming. You already helped me change my brake fluid last year.

 

Interestingly, I was already subscribed before reading this today. I suppose on the fashion channel I'd be described as "style forward."

 

But people DO ask - nearly all the time. A quick search here on the forum and if you frequent any of the social media groups will yield an absolutely ridiculous amount of instances of individuals asking "where's the YouTube video describing so -n- so". In the modern age - and even as the OP pointed out - so many individuals before tackling a project immediately go onto YouTube and look for something. I've done it even if I know the ins and outs of the job. A refresher never hurt even the most expert of experts.

No one asked for ZIP Corvette to make the video on retrieving and clearing codes but near everyone links to it the second someone asks about codes.

When such a video doesn't exist or a content creator thinks they can do better they deliver the "do" that the community asked for; make the video. The thing is though none of these small content creators get anywhere near back what they've put into the work, and creating a video is much much more than just shooting it. Editing (I actually do video editing work professionally) takes WAY longer than most people think it should take. It's often serious, intricate, detailed work.

It's very understandable if a content creator simply asks that people subscribe or try and make an effort to give some views and likes. Plus remember; ultimately YouTube is to the repair manual what digital photographs were to 35mm film. People can make any memes or derogatory comments about "YouTube mechanics" they want but they hold extreme relevance in 2018.

 

I don't subscribe to anything on Youtube. I really don't care for all the "updates" that I receive.

 

Thanks for the thoughtful words. And you have my respect as a profession video editor. I'm a novice at best, and it's waaay more work than I imagined haha (in fact I might be less than novice since I still use Windows movie maker, haha). I now look at well done videos on YT much differently.

And for the folks who were already subscribed... thanks!!